Multi-segment sponge mop



'United States Patent MULTI-SEGMEN` SPONGE MOP Nathan Poritz, rookl'yn, N. Y. pplication July 6., 1955, Serial N o. 520,177 6 Claims. (Cl. 15--119) This invention-relates to improvements in sponge mops.

The Vutility of the sponge-type mops, which is currently so popular Vin the home and in commercial establishments, is dependa-nt primarily on the means provided for eliminating the liquid absorbed by lthe sponge. The quantity of water per unit volume of sponge which a sponge can absorb without release during normal mopping operations varies from the absorption attainable by the more conventional cloth mop. However the rate of .absorption `is greater, mop particles `are not deposited during mopping, the sponge is more durable and Vit is in general easier to eliminate the absorbed water than it is for cloth mops. Since the water is absorbed rapidly by a sponge .mop it is lextremely Ypertinent to provide an eiicient inexpensive means `for eliminating the water of absorption.

A convenient `method for eliminating absorbed water which is used in some of the sponge mops on the market involves an elongated backing for the sponge which can be pivoted labout transverse axes located adjacent the mop handle. The pivoting action is caused either by mechanical means or manually. During the pivoting motion the sponge head is flexed in a beam-like manner introducing compressive forces in portions of the sponge causing the extraction -or expulsion of water from the sponge cells. Thus by merely .grasping the outer pivoted ends of the `mop head and bending them towards each other most ofthe water can be removed in a matter of seconds with a minimum effort. Due to the sponge elasticity, release of the mop head will result in the immediate return of the head to its normally straight position.

The instant invention is generally of the above described class and includes additional novel features. The sponge backing comprises a plurality of rigid segments pivotally interconnected. "The middle segment is aliixed to the handle and abuts the outer segments wedgingly. Thus pressure from the mop handle is distributed more uniformly'to the outer portions ofVV the sponge which are attached to the outer segments, by virtue of the wedging action. Consequently the cleansing action 'of the sponge is uniformly distributed to the entire sponge preventing concentration of wear and tear on the sponge portions immediately beneath the mop handle'. Furthermore, the .pivoting means comprise merely 'the sponge Vmaterial anda thin fabric orsimillar layer securing the sponge to the separate segments. Consequently the pivotal motion is obtained inexpensively involving a minimum of parts, and maintenance therefor. Moreover due to the wedging contact between the segments shearing forces tending to move the outer segments transversely relative to the middle segment are adequately resisted reducing stress and strain on the sponge material.

Consequently the primary object of this invention is the provision of a sponge mop which can be flexed transversely to the mopping surface to remove water therefrom, wherein the backing for the sponge material is 2 durable and inexpensive; involving a minimum of 'strueture to achieve the eXing action and which adequately resists shear and bending forces to prevent excessive V'vt/"ear and tear on 'the sponge material.

Another object of this invention is` the provision of r`a pivoted mop head which can kbe flexed vtransversely 'to the mopping surface and wherein pressure applied by the 'mop handle 4is transferred 'uniformly "t the sponge material. I

'-A still further Object f this invention is the ivi'sin of a pivoted-type mop head including `a 'water vabserta-.nt material Vaffixed securely Ito a plurality 4of rigidyseg'- ments by simple inexpensive means; said 'means idiii'g `in Aresisting bending moments induced during cleansing operations. i A A Further objects -and inventive features will `beeoine more apparent from the following detailed `description when read in conjunction with the annexed ldrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of ya sponge mop incorporating the novel improvements involved herein;l

Figure 2 Vis a longitudinal -se'ction through plane p2 of Figure 1 showing details of a mop head embodiment;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the inner end of the sponge backing segments of another species of mop head;

.Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the backing segments of Fig. 3 but Vwith the sponge added.

-Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of still another species of mop head; and

Figure 6 is an end elevation of a mop head 'which has Ybeen actuated to the position assumed when water is being removed from the sponge.

Referring 4now to Figure l, a mop illustrating the instant invention is seen to generally comprise a handle 10 secured by threads or the like to a backing 'plate assembly 11 formed of a rigid material. Ywater absorbing material, such as a sponge, in the forni of an oblong pad -1.2 is secured to the inner end of the plate assembly by either 'of ka plurality of methods to be described in detail below.

As better seen in Figures 2, 4, y5 and 6 the backing plate assembly -1-1 comprises thr'ee individual segments 13, 14 and 15 which are held together in close abutment by the pad 12 and the means for securing the pad to the assembly. The middle segment 14 includes oppositevly tapered or bevelled surfaces 16 and 17 forming a Wedge `converging towards an inner surfaee 158. The outer surface 19 is provided with a threaded socket $20 adapted to receive the handle end 2'1 removably. Each of the outer segments and 15 include bevelled s'urfaces 22 and 23 adapted to ab'ut the opposing bevelled surfaces 16 and 17 respectively in complementary fashion. When the three segments are placed end t'o end with the bevelled surfaces in abutment they form rectangular shaped back or plate assembly hereinabove designated 11.

.In Figure 2 an embodiment isf shown wherein the segments 13, 14 and 15 are secured by a conventional adhesive direct-ly to the sponge pad 12. The pad 12 is sufliciently inelastic to prevent 'the outer segments y13 and 15 from bending beyond the outer surface 19 when pressure is applied to the mop head during cleansing. The complementary bevelled edges serve to maintain the back plate in a rm and rigid manner to provide a firm support for the mop pad 12. Shearing forces tending to move the segments 13 and 15 transversely beyond surface 19 of segment 14 are resisted by the pressure exerted by segment 14 upon segments 13 and 15 due to the wedging action. Thus uniform pressure is distributed to all portions of the mop pad 12 reducing the concentration of frictional wearing forces on the middle segment 14 and preventing the generation of excessive bending and shearing stresses on the pad 12. Consequently the life of the pad will be substantially increased and the cleaning function will be more eicient.

The method involved in removing excess water or cleaning uid is best seen in Figure 6. The outer segments are manually flexed towards each other causing compression throughout most of the pad resulting in the expulsion of water. The pivoted motion is easily produced without resort to complicated hinge devices which deteriorate and require maintenance.

A second form of the invention is disclosed in Figures 3 and 4 wherein the segments are recessed along the inner surfaces to form a cutout 24 which receives a strip 25 of leather, fabric, rubber or the like. Tacks, clips or the like 26 are used to secure the strip to the adjoining segments. When so mounted within cutout 24, the surface of the strip 25 is coplanar with the inner surface of the plate assembly. The purpose of strip 25 is twofold.

Firstly, the strip aids in binding the segments together when the mop head is subjected to bending stresses tending to concave the outer surface of the pad 12. Secondly, the strip augments the adhesion of the pad to the plate assembly.

In Figure a third embodiment is depicted wherein a piece of cloth fabric 27 or the like is disposed between the pad and the segments along the full area of the opposing surfaces and secured to both surfaces by a suitable adhesive. Again as in the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the fabric 27 functions both to resist :tensilestresses due to bending and to increase the adhesive forces between the plate assembly and the sponge pad. It is easier t'o first mount a thin fabric on the plate assembly than to mount the pad 12 thereon directly. Moreover, the adhesive forces are greater between the cloth and the plate and pad materials than the forces between the plate and pad materials directly.

Wood, plastic, lightweight metals, etc. are all suitable for fabricating the segments. Although sponge is preferred for pad 12, it should be understood that other known materials having liquid absorption qualities may also be used.

It is now apparent that although the disclosed mop assembly is extremely simple, minimizing thereby fabrication costs, an eicient cleansing action is achieved therewith without incurring significant maintenance costs, and excessive water can be rapidly eliminated with a minimum effort without resort to complicated devices or attached accessories.

It should further be understood that the numerous modifications resulting from changes in size, shape, material, arrangement, are all regarded as falling within the scope of this invention.

Having thus duly disclosed in detail the nature of the Ainvention a grant of Letters Patent is desired for the novelty as dened by the following claims.

I claim:

l. A water absorbent mop head comprising a water absorbent pad of relatively high flexibility and a plate assembly of low exibility, said pad being secured adhesively to the assembly which comprises three segments having surfaces normally in abutment forming a rectangle, including a middle segment and two end segments, the end surfaces of the middle segment converge towards the pad and the abutting surfaces of the end segments being sloped in a complementary manner whereby the middle segment is disposed in a wedge-like fashion between the end segments, thus pressure applied to the middle segment is transferred via the sloping surfaces uniformly to the end segments and shearing forces acting on the end segments are resisted by the converging surfaces of the middle segment.

2. A mop head as in claim l wherein the pad is secured directly to the plate assembly with a conventional viscous adhesive.

3. A mop head as in claim l including a strip of leather mounted on the plate assembly with tacks, the said pad being secured adhesively to both the strip and the assembly.

4. A mop head as in claim l wherein the plate assembly portion which is secured to the pad is recessed and a strip of leather is securely mounted within the said recess to each of the said segments thereby providing additional resistance to bending stresses tending to bend the pad towards the plate, the pad being secured adhesively to both the plate and the leather strip.

5. A mop head comprising an absorbent pad of flexible material and a backing of rigid material secured thereto along the bottom surface thereof, said backing comprising a rectangular shaped body divided into three segments, a portion of said pad being secured to the bottom surface of each of said segments, said three segments comprising a wedge shape middle segment having bevelled ends and an outer segment disposed at each of the ends thereof, said outer segments each being formed with a complementary bevelled inner surface in abutment with the bevelled end surfaces of said middle segment whereby the portions of said pad secured to said end segments may be flexed toward each other in order to cause the compression of said pad and the expulsion of water therefrom, and means for securing a handle to said middle segment.

6. A mop head comprising an absorbent pad of flexible material and a backing secured thereto, said backing comprising a generally rectangular body and being transversely divided into three segments to thereby form a middle segment and an outer segment disposed at each of the ends thereof, said line of division comprising bevelled surfaces formed at each of the ends of said middle segment whereby said middle segment comprises a wedge shape and a complementary bevelled surface formed on an inner edge of each of said outer segments in abutment with one of the bevelled surfaces of said middle segment, and means for securing a handle to said middle segment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 84,166 Brown Nov. 17, 1868 565,589 Ballam Aug. l1, 1896 2,637,059 Vosbikian et al May 5, 1953 2,694,210 Bitzer et al. Nov. 16, 1954 2,701,888 Vosbikian et al Feb. 15, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 463,790 Canada Mar. 2l, 1950 708,239 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1954 784,000 France Apr. 15, 1935 

